Pope Leo XIV is expected to accept the resignation of Cardinal Timothy Dolan and announce a successor for the Archdiocese of New York as early as Thursday, December 18, Catholic website The Pillar reported.
There are rumors in Catholic news outlets that Dolan’s successor is expected to be Bishop Ron Hicks, 58, of Joliet, Illinois, the same state as newly elected Pope Leo.
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Rumor has it that Hicks will soon assume one of the largest and most publicized roles in the U.S. Catholic Church, becoming the second-largest archdiocese in the country.
Former Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino, who created the Catholic Channel on Sirius XM, acknowledged the rumors about the new appointment in a Monday post on XM, calling them “strong.”
Why did Cardinal Dolan resign?
Dolan confirmed that he submitted his resignation letter to the late Pope Francis in February after his 75th birthday.
In 2014, Francis had forced cardinals to resign at age 75, but due to a shortage of priests and ordained personnel in the Catholic Church, many cardinals could continue to serve, depending on when the Holy See accepted it.
“You have to submit a letter of resignation,” Dolan told The Catholic Channel on Sirius XM in New York in February. “Normally, the Holy See would ask you to stay until your successor is named, but you don’t know when that will be.”
Dolan became a cardinal of the Archdiocese of New York in 2009, replacing former Cardinal Edward Egan in his seat at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Manhattan.
The leadership change comes as the archdiocese seeks $300 million to resolve more than 1,300 allegations that priests and other Catholic church staff sexually abused children. Several churches in the Lower Hudson Valley and across the state have filed for bankruptcy or sold properties to recoup funds.
“As we have acknowledged time and time again, the sexual abuse of minors has long brought disgrace to our church,” Dolan said Monday, according to the New York Post. “I again ask for forgiveness for those who betrayed the trust we placed in them and failed to provide safety for our young people.”
The Archdiocese of New York has not responded to requests for comment regarding the retirement or replacement claims.
Contributor: Nancy Cutler of lohud
This article originally appeared in The Rockland/Westchester Press: Why did Cardinal Dolan resign? what we know
